If you’re a resident or business owner in New York City, you likely receive regular water and sewer bills from the New York City Water Board. Paying your NYC water bill on time and in full is important to avoid late fees, collection actions, and even service disruptions.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about paying your New York City Water Board utility bill, including:
- Understanding Your Water Board Bill
- When Water Bills Are Issued
- Ways to Pay Your Water Bill
- Payment Assistance Programs
- Avoiding Scams and Fraud
- Penalties for Late Payments
- FAQs About NYC Water Payments
Whether you prefer to pay online, by phone, by mail or in person, this guide will walk through the various payment options and policies related to Water Board billing in New York City.
Understanding Your NYC Water Board Bill
The New York City Water Board is part of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and is responsible for billing and collecting payments for water and sewer services.
Typical Water Board bills include charges for:
- Water usage based on metered consumption
- Sewer charges based on water usage
- Infrastructure fees for capital improvements
Bills may also contain adjustments payments, credits or past due balances.
The Water Board issues bills on a quarterly basis to most residential customers, while large buildings and commercial accounts are billed monthly.
Your account number, meter number, and service address will appear on the bill along with amount due and due date
When New York City Water Bills Are Issued
Here is the regular billing cycle for Water Board utility bills:
- January – Usage from September 16 to December 15 billed
- April – Usage from December 16 to March 15 billed
- July – Usage from March 16 to June 15 billed
- October – Usage from June 16 to September 15 billed
So your water usage for each 3-month period will be billed at the start of the following quarter.
Exact bill delivery dates can vary, but bills are typically issued at least 10 days before the due date. Due dates are usually at the beginning of the month.
For example, your January bill reflecting September to December usage would be issued around January 20th and due on February 1st.
Ways to Pay Your New York City Water Bill
The New York City Water Board offers various payment options including online, by phone, by mail, or in person. Here are the main methods available:
Pay Online
The DEP website allows ratepayers to sign up for a My DEP Account to manage payments online. You can:
- View and print current and past bills
- Make one-time payments by e-check, credit card, or debit card
- Set up autopay for recurring payments from a bank account
- Go paperless by receiving bills electronically
There is also an online payment option for non-account holders.
Pay by Phone
Call (866) 622-8292 to use the automated phone payment system. You can pay by:
- Electronic check with no fee
- Credit or debit card which incurs a 2.25% convenience fee
This system is available 24/7 for quick phone payments.
Pay by Mail
Mail a check or money order using the return envelope provided with your bill to:
NYC Water Board
P.O. Box 11863
Newark, NJ 07101-8163
Be sure to include your payment stub to credit your account properly.
Pay in Person
Bring cash, check, or money order to:
-
A DEP Borough Office – Visit DEP website for locations and hours
-
NYC Dept. of Finance Business Center – Visit Finance website for locations
In-person payments allow you to get proof of payment and avoid mail delays.
Assistance for Paying Your Water Bill
If you are having difficulty paying your Water Board bill, there are programs available to help qualified applicants:
- Multi-family Water Assistance Program – Bill discount for rental buildings
- Home Water Assistance Program – Bill discount for 1-4 family homes
- Water Debt Assistance – Debt relief for low-income homeowners
You can contact DEP Customer Service or check the website for complete details on assistance programs. Additional savings may be available by fixing leaks, installing Conservation devices, or disputing high bills.
Avoiding Scams and Fraud
Be aware of potential scams when paying your water bill:
- DEP employees will always have ID badges clearly displayed
- Only use official DEP in-person offices, phone numbers, and websites
Reject any calls or home visits demanding immediate payment or personal information. Report scams to DEP customer service.
Penalties for Late Water Bill Payments
If you do not pay your water bill by the due date, there are a series of enforcement actions that can occur:
- Late fees applied to overdue balances
-collections actions including wage garnishment, bank levies, and property liens - Shut off of water service for non-payment
Shutoffs only occur after multiple late notices and attempts to resolve non-payment. Landlords face large fines for tampering with water meters and diversion of service.
Avoid penalties by paying on time, enrolling in autopay, or contacting DEP if you need assistance or extensions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Paying Water Bills
How much is the late fee for overdue water bills?
- The late fee is 10% of any overdue water charges. Late fees have a minimum of $10 and maximum of $50 per quarter.
When will my water get shut off for non-payment?
- Shutoffs for 1-3 family homes start after bills are 90 days overdue. Multi-family dwellings start at 120 days overdue.
Can I dispute my water bill amount?
- Yes, you can dispute your bill if usage seems abnormal or charges incorrect. Contact DEP customer service for more on the dispute process.
Do low-income seniors get a discount on water bills?
- Yes, the Home Water Assistance Program offers a discount of $115-$160 per year to income eligible seniors 65+.
Can I pay my water bill with a credit card?
- Yes, you can pay by credit or debit card online, by phone, or at Borough Offices. A 2.25% convenience fee will apply.
Where is my water account number located?
- Your account number is in the upper right area of the water bill. See a sample bill on the DEP website for reference.
Paying Your Water Bill On Time Is Simple
While water bills in New York City have increased in recent years, DEP offers convenient payment options and assistance programs to customers. Avoid late fees and service interruptions by paying your bill in full and on time using one of the online, phone, mail or in-person methods. Reach out to DEP customer service if you need help managing your account.
Online Billing and Payment Service
Our billing and payment service launched in 2022 provides our customers with an easy way to view and pay their water utility bills online. Visit our Billing and Payment Portal to take advantage of the convenient features!
- Set it up
- Join paperless billing to help the environment and cut down on paper waste.
- Want to pay by phone? Call 516-259-8953 at any time, day or night, for a safe payment.
- When you’re on the go, you can use your phone to pay by text.
- Find out about all the ways you can pay your bill online, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, PayPal, and more!
The Department of Water has continued to fully function throughout the pandemic with regard to water supply and testing. While the customer service counter has reopened for submission of applications and payment of bills, customers are encouraged to mail their payments, make a payment online, or drop their payments in the drop box provided near the entrance of our office.
Bowling Green Estates, East Meadow, Levittown, Uniondale, Roosevelt Field, and Lido-Point Lookout are the six different areas that make up the Town of Hempstead Water Department. All other communities in the Town of Hempstead are serviced by either private companies or villages.
The department offers tours and lectures at its East Meadow facility. This service is available to schools and senior groups, among others.
Need help paying overdue water bills?
The New York State Low Income Household Water Assistance Program assists low-income households who are in arrears on water bills. Visit the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) to see if you may qualify.
There are 32 wells that bring water to the districts. Of these, 29 are in the Magothy Aquifer. Three of the 32 wells are located in the Lido-Pt. Lookout Water District and are drawn from the deeper Lloyd formation. Wells range in depth from 487 feet to 1,285 feet and were installed between 1951 and 2012.
In 2020, the 32 wells produced 6,308,290,000 gallons (including Lido) of water. There are 377 miles of water mains, ranging in size from 6 inches to 24 inches, that bring water to the 37,109 customers of the department. The department has seven elevated and two ground storage tanks with a storage capacity of nine million gallons. In addition, the department maintains 3,317 fire hydrants.
In 2020, the average residential customer used approximately 144,271 gallons of water, a daily average of 395 gallons. That’s because all of the department’s water meters can be read from a distance, so no one has to go into a customer’s home.
